Assault on Mining Office 3 (CaptBonkers, Dutch)

[CaptainBonkers]

A burst of blaster fire from that damn heavy repeater burrowed into the duracrete, sending pieces of it flying in the air like miniature shrapnel and forcing Jayec to duck behind the wall he was using as cover cursing loudly. That bloody thing had been hounding him and his men for the past hour like a Jawa with a heap of junk for sale. The Pubs had managed to set it on a small incline between two large rocks where they were well protected from the Mandalorians' fire and had an excellent vantage over the abandoned mining office Jayec's unit was dug in. Okay, 'dug in' might have been a slight exaggeration. 'Hunkered down' was probably much closer to mark but Jayec's men had managed to do plenty to shore up the cover the place could provide. All things considered, it wasn't too bad of a place to make a stand and pray that the reinforcements made it there before they were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the enemy. But even if Jayec and his men were run over in the end, he swore that the Pubs were in for plenty of casualties if they wanted to their Jedi back.


Capturing the Jedi alive was going to be a large feather in the unit's cap, provided they made it home to boast about it. It was a costly one too: two of Jayec's comrades, Harlan and Mendo, had given their lives capturing the Jedi and Kaira had lost her right arm to the Jedi's lightsaber. But casualties were to be expected and when one took into consideration the fact that the Jedi Jayec and his men had captured was a Master on the Priority Target List, two fallen and one wounded wasn't too bad. In retrospect it could have gone far worse than it had gone.


Another burst from the repeater burrowed into duracrete next to Jayec's cover. They were apparently trying to keep him suppressed. Had they figured he was in charge here and were now concentrating on him first? Unlikely. Outwardly Jayec didn't stand out from the rest of the unit's member. His beskar'gam lacked any distinctive marks that would have denoted rank and was currently painted in the color of the surrounding terrain, namely dust brown, just like everyone else's in the unit. No, the most likely reason for him being targeted was that he was the last one to poke his head out of cover.


Jayec moved away from the window, making sure to stay out of sight, and headed for another vantage point, a smaller window next to the back door of the minig office, where his second, Kenna, was calmly lining a shot at a Pub trooper who had had the bright idea to leave cover and try to get closer to the house. He didn't make it: Kenna pulled the trigger once and the enemy soldier went down, screaming in pain. It hadn't been a kill shot. It would take a while for the soldier to perish from his wounds, during which some of his comrades might try to help him providing Kenna more opportunities to thin the enemy's ranks before they finally assaulted.


"Oh, hi chief. Whatcha doing here?" she asked, stepping away from the window when it came under fire from somewhere in the dried up bushes outside. From his angle, Jayec couldn't make out the muzzle flash.


"Changing positions. Got fed up being picked on that damn repeater. How are things here?"


Kenna chuckled. "Pretty good, all things considered. I always liked a good siege. Any news on the reinforcements?"


"Nothing definite. All they say over unsecured channel is that they'll be here soon. Oric's trying to establish a secure connection but with that busted antenna I'm not holding my breath."


"Figures. Well, I hope they get here soon. Otherwise they might miss all the fun."


Jayec grinned under his helmet. Good that she was staying positive. Then again this was what they all lived for. Everyone currently holed up in here knew they could die here and were prepared to do so as befit a Mandalorian warrior. No one would be surrendering here if the worst should happen, Jayec was sure of it.


Kenna turned inched back to window and fired a quick burst at an enemy head peeking from behind a small rock maybe a hundred and fifty feet away from the house. She didn't hit but the head vanished back behind the cover. They were getting closer, testing the Mandalorian defenses. A full on assault wasn't far off now. At least they hadn't called in an artillery barrage or an airstrike. The bastards were probably keeping it as a plan B) in case it turned out they couldn't retrieve their precious Jedi alive: just reduce the office to a smoking crater and keep a nice memorial service for the Jedi later. They probably wouldn't have to resort to that, though. With about a company versus the Mandalorian's eight, or twelve if you counted the wounded, they would eventually overwhelm Jayec and his unit. Unless, of course the reinforcements got here in time.


"So how's our esteemed guest?" Kenna inquired, ducking back behind the cover.


"Bound, gagged and sedated at the manager's office under Jayna's watchful eye . He shouldn't cause any problems to use in a while."


"Good to know, chief. I'd hate to have to worry about a free jetii inside here while the Pubs come at us."


"You and me both." It really was an unpleasant thought. Jayec made a point of checking that the confiscated lightsaber was still hanging from his belt and had not mysteriously vanished. It was still there. Good. Jayec didn't know what the Jedi could do with their Force but he truly hoped that teleporting items didn't number among the abilities granted to them. The captured Jedi recovering his weapon would be problematic, to say the least.


Jayec's communicator beeped and Oric's, their comm. specialist's, voice rang into his ear. "Hey boss. I think I've managed to set up a secure connection with the friendlies coming to help us. Want me to patch you through?"


"I'd appreciate it." there was a moment of static in Jayec's ear. Then Oric spoke up again. "You're through. I think."


"Got it. Good work Oric." he then switched to the secure channel alone. "This is alor'ad Jayec Veth with the 12th Keldabe Recon, do you copy? We're currently holding steady at location 3-2-5-3 in grid Besh 3 but surrounded and heavily outnumbered, so if you could hurry up, it'd be much appreciated. We've got wounded and a class Aurek 1 priority prisoner. Over."

[Dutch]

“The discussion is over, jatne vode.”

Mandalore’s voice, stern and ending any argument her advisers had on the matter of the Aurek 1 on Bandomeer. She stood alone before the viewport, the hypnotizing sheen of hyperspace glinted eerily over her polished beskar’gam. With one pair of arms crossed under her chest, and the other clasped behind her back the Mandalorian stood a chromed statue. The classic T-shaped visor of her helm turned to regard the group behind her. All various Chieftains of the Mandalorians, and all stationed aboard the Conquest as their clans invaded the sector. Moments earlier they had argued over how to approach the current situation. Only moments. For Mandalore the Reclaimer had her plan as soon as she learned the location.

“Each of you, tell your mounted verda to meet me in the hangar.” Mandalore commanded. “We’re giving the Republic a taste of what’s coming.”

”Elek, Mand’alor.” They all dutifully replied.

***

“This is Mandalore. Copy that 8-2-5-3, Besh 3.” She simply replied.

An understatement as the fiery insertion into Bandomeer’s atmosphere lit her armor. Crouched low and clung to her basilisk Kaysh’davaab’skira, Mandalore’s HUD bleeped as the beacon tied to the coordinates flashed on the horizon. She reached down with one hand to grip a small lever below one of Skira’s plates, and grit her teeth as the droid’s wings collapsed down even further. A sonic boom, and the heavy basilisk screamed ever closer to the growing planet.

Faster and faster still, Mandalore held on for her life as she pushed the droid’s boundaries further than before. The bestial besu’liik shrieked as a protesting drexl would, anger not for the rider but at physics itself. Her hand secured the lever before it pulled back to pat her faithful companion. Whispers of comfort only meant for Skira were uttered in mando’a, difficult with the raging adrenaline that ignited her nerves.

Soon they were over the Great Sea, their vode pinned down a dozen clicks away from the approaching coast. Another drexl-esque cry sounded from Skira, the basilisk clearly enjoying the thrill of the drop as much as Mandalore. Dropping from space with nothing but a suit of armor to stop death never got old. Details on the coast could be seen now, megalithic super structures similar to Nar Shaddaa seemed to dominate it. Behind that was your classic Republic styled settlement. All duracrete and plasteel. No spirit to it, no individualism, only block after block of standard settlement. Further beyond that, she could barely make out what looked like a crowd surrounding a single building. The glowing HUD indicator above it affirmed what she already knew, and a fangy grin touched the codru-ji’s lips. Hidden behind beskar and burning ozone.

This alor’ad Veth wasn’t wrong. Her Mandalorians were severely outnumbered by the look of it. A sizeable force of Republic soldiers, typical of what would be seen on a world like Bandomeer. Too far to notice more details, she wasn’t sure if there were more Jedi than the one captured. Surely there had to be, with the Order committing fully now the rims had filled with Jedi. Too many Jedi. Whether there were more or not, it did not truly matter. For when one rode into battle upon a besu’liik a Jedi was merely a man; and men were easily killed. In the sky above a single red streak would herald Mandalore’s arrival. Her eyes dipped to a tiny chronometer that sat in the corner of her HUD, the little holo blinking at a new best drop time.

7: 33

Another sonic boom, and the hurtling war droid would suddenly throw open its wings. The wind was knocked out of Mandalore by the rapid change, desperately nestled into the saddle. At that point, there was nothing more to do than trust in Skira. Her wicked grin spread as the huge droid spiraled gracefully before righting itself. Sure enough to risk sitting up, her plan to use the drop momentum to heighten their speed seemed to work. In mere moments the basilisk descended down, roaring as a rancor as her massive talons rended apart the Republic artillery. It flashed and exploded, screams of the soldiers within echoing. Mandalore banked against the attempted response of blaster fire as it splashed uselessly across beskar.

Skira roared again, the horrible tremor of a rancor preceding a quaking discharge from her shockwave cannons. The entire left flank of the structure lit as if an arkanian dragon had belched flame over it, only to leave a line of smoldering rubble. A Jedi leaped from the crowd, blue lightsabers flashing as he attempted to end the threat mid-air. Another blast from the shockwave cannons would reduce the Jedi to a flipping skeleton. Mandalore barked a laugh, and held tightly as Skira rolled before suddenly dropping.

Before the dust could even settle, the six-legged hulk of a droid galloped with occasional blasts from her thrusters for boosts. Both of Mandalore’s right arms gripped the shoulder mounted beskar lance, and wordlessly thanks the droid as she unclasped it. Tucked into her side, Mandalore adjusted her seating to perch atop the saddle. Just as the Jendri clan had shown her. With gentle angling the pubs in her path would be taken out, throats torn by the lance or necks broken from the cranial trauma. Closer and closer the war droid sprinted towards the mining office, the Republic soldiers desperate to kill or avoid the marauding Mandalore.

"Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur!" Cried out Mandalore, her voice amplified through the war droid to echo across the Republic attackers.

[CaptainBonkers]

“This is Mandalore…”


Jayec’s train of thought was completely derailed for a moment for the first time in a very long time and he barely registered what the Mand’alor said next. The Mand’alor herself was coming to their rescue. The Mand’alor! He wasn’t sure whether it was the greatest honor in his life to have a chance to fight alongside the leader of the Mando’a or a great shame because said leader was forced to come to haul his hide out of a sticky situation. It was probably better not to dwell on that matter right now. He had a fight to survive after all and the Pubs weren’t going to stop their assault just because he had to stop to think about things that didn’t matter right now.


Jayec ‘s mind got back on rails and he switched back to squad channel. “Alright boys and girls, listen up. Mand’alor herself has come to save our wretched hides, so do me and yourself a solid and don’t die in an embarrassingly. Don’t die at all if you can but try to kick it heroically if you can’t help yourself.”


The information had an invigorating effect on the unit, Jayec could tell. Shots at the enemy became more accurate and more frequent, insults were hurled at the pubs with more heart and the comrades Jayec could see from his position spent less time in cover. No one wished to shame themselves or the unit in the eyes of the Mand’alor by playing it too safe. At the same time the Republic forces kicked up their assault. Finally. Jayec didn’t whether or not they had knew about the impound reinforcements for the Mandalorians, but it seemed that they came at them with fury.


The Republic assault began with an intense concentration of blaster fire at the mining office with the intention of keeping Jayec’s unit suppressed while the pub troops left their cover and advanced rapidly over the dusty yard between them and the mining office. Like straight out of a textbook. Against any other group of soldiers it might have been quite an effective approach but Jayec and his unit weren’t just any soldiers. They were Mandalorians, well armed and trained from birth to fight till death if need be. Where imperial troops might have cowered in cover, the Mandalorians kept firing, trusting that their beskar’gam would keep them safe from a hit or two. Only when heavy concentration of fire found their position, would they duck behind cover.

But the enemy didn’t give up despite receiving casualties as it approached and soon was close enough to the Mandalorian positions that grenades hurled by them became a real problem for the defenders.


“Grenade!” Kenna shouted and jumped away from the window. Jayec lunged into the next room and took cover behind the wall. Few seconds later a loud explosion shook the walls. Had Jayec not been wearing his helmet, he would have gone deaf but as it was now, the helmet dampened the noise to a level that didn’t damage his hearing. He still felt the shockwave pass him and couldn’t help but to smile under his helmet. Despite being outgunned and outnumbered, Jayec couldn’t help but to enjoy the fighting now that it had finally began. Waiting had been grating and there was no glory en exchanging potshots over distance but fighting like this, so close that you could see the dents in your foes armor, was right, even if they were the defending side. However, worry over his comrades wiped the smile off of his face quickly as he stood up. Had Kenna made it out of the grenades blast zone?


He peeked around the corner. The other room was a mess: the floor was covered in rubble from the now partially collapsed wall and debris was everywhere. Kenna’s legs were sticking out from behind an upturned durasteel desk. At first it looked like they weren’t moving and Jayec feared for the worst, but then he heard the loud cursing coming from their direction. She was probably just still dazed from the shockwave.


“Hey Cadera! You still breathing?” Jayec inquired loudly over the sounds of the battle raging around them.


“Yeah! That fraking grenade cracked my visor! Can’t see a damn thing.” she replied, slowly getting back on her feet. “I’m gonna rip someone’s head off for this.” She added as she finally got up and dusted herself.


A spider web of cracks covered the t-shaped visor on her helmet. It must have taken a pretty good hit, cracking the visor of a Mandalorian helmet with anything short of a direct hit from a heavy blaster or a slugthrower was an accomplishment. Well, at least she was alive and able to keep fighting.


There was a familiar sound outside: the heavy cannons of a besuliik firing. Damn, I missed the landing. There was no sight that could compare in beauty and inspiration as watching a basilisk wardroid fall from the sky on one’s foes, except as watching the same thing from the back of a basilisk wardroid. Jayec had only ever seen those things in action from afar but now it seemed he was about to see one in action very close to himself.


“Looks like the reinforcements have touched the ground.” he said and switched to the secure channel. “Sucuy’gar Mand’alor. This is alor’ad Veth. What are your orders?”

[Dutch]

The lance pierced straight through the Jedi’s plasteel curiass to pin the dying sullustan against duracrete. It would need to be released to jut out from the rubble near the mining office, silvery beskar gleaming in the sun. The basilisk continued its charge as Mandalore’s gloved hand gripped one of her heavy blasters. She turned her helm back to check her aim before a pair of searing blue bolts lanced into the dying Jedi’s neck. Mandalore smirked superiorly, hidden behind her visor. The rattling cry of an acklay shrieked from Skira sounded as a pair of Republic RPG’s slammed into the droid’s head. A series of clicking noises lead to the basilisk’s shoulder mounted grenade launcher to turn to the general area that sourced the attack.

THWUMP THWUMP THWUMP THWUMP

Sounded the launcher as a few grenades were lobbed into the alley where the soldiers hid. The following shouts of surprise were quickly ended as the incendiary grenades ignited the alley in flames. The one survivor who stumbled from the alley engulfed in fire was quickly ended by another shot to the neck by Mandalore. One hand still gripped the saddle below her as the other two also withdrew blasters. A nudge of her boot lead Skira to bellow like a krayt dragon before the war mount lunged towards the buildings. The basilisk’s thrusters flared to assist the jump, further adding to the pyre that grew in the street behind.

“Sucuy’gar Mand’alor. This is alor’ad Veth. What are your orders?”

“Orders, ner’verda?” Mandalore started, but was unable to finish as another rocket slammed into the war droid’s flank. A low stream of cursing in mando’a continuing on the comm. The nearby troop with the launcher attempted to flee, but was broken upon Skira’s claws as they swept into him in a backwards kick. Mandalore barked a laugh at the sad attempt before the realization that the comm remained open sunk in. The woman cleared her throat, and set to steeling her nerves.

“The jetii is priority, get them and your squad to the top level. I will prepare it for you.”

The comm clicked off and both of Mandalore’s boots were kicked against the droid she rode. The basilisk’s thrusters belched to life, a heavy shroud of black smoke billowing behind it as Skira lifted off. From atop it Mandalore could see drop ships in the distance, Republic reinforcements racing to join the fray. ’Let them come…’ thought the Reclaimer as she ascended.

Once high enough the basilisk would suddenly angle down to fly straight into the structure’s roof. The massive claws of its front legs tore at duracrete and steel, great chunks of it tumbling into the air into the growing Republic force below. The whole building would shake as Mandalore set to clear the remaining rubble from the top floor, leaving nothing but walls to stand. Cover for her kin. Her HUD radar began to register friendly transponders nearing, but the chaos of the skirmish made determining the number difficult. Something she needed to know. Another click, and her channel to Veth came alive.

“Tell me, vod; how many do you number? Including your aruetii burc’ya.”

[CaptainBonkers]

A republic trooper charged through a hole in the wall, lunging at Jayec vibroblade in hand. He was probably hoping to keep the Mandalorian defenders busy long enough for his comrades to make it inside. Not the smartest of decisions, but then again with a Bes'uliik tearing through their ranks outside desperation was bound to set in gradually. Say what you will about the Pubs, but at least they didn't give up easily. Jayec had seen more final stands made by Republic forces than he would have ever expected to see before the war. If someone had asked him to describe Republic troopers five years ago 'complacent cowards' would have been his answer. Now, after fighting against them for a while, Jayec had developed a somewhat grudging respect for them: sure their training was sub-par but at least many of the enemy soldiers had the guts to go down in a blaze of glory instead of rolling over and playing dead.


Jayec was saved from being skewered by the combination of over two decades of training and experience. The trooper had gotten too close for Jayec to get a good shot at him, but that didn't mean he had the upper hand. Up close and personal was where Jayec shone. He parried the vibroblade with the a quick swing of his rifle, sending the enemy trooper flailing off balance. The pub trooper might have recovered quite quickly had Jayec not kept up his attack by landing a swift kick into the back of the pub's knee and sweeping him off his feet.


Then, before his foe had a chance to get back on his feet, Jayec fired once to the trooper's head from almost point blank range. The blast went straight through, killing the target instantly. Wondering what had prompted the man charge armed with nothing more than a flimsy standard issue knife Jayec turned his attention back to the hole in the wall. Maybe he had dropped his gun in the confusion of the battle. Maybe the trooper had just gone nuts. Whatever the reason had been, Jayec had not the time to wonder about it. He could see more enemy approaching through the swirling dust.


"The Jetii is the priority, get them and your squad to the top level. I will prepare it for you."chimed the Mand'alor's voice through Jayec's helmet's earpiece.


"Roger that Mand'alor. We'll be there asap." Jayec had his orders now and intended to see them through to the letter or die trying. He wasn't going to be failing the Mandalore.


"Listen up everyone!" Jayec broadcasted over the squad channel. "We will begin a controlled retreat to the top floor as per Mandalore's orders. Jayna, you take the prisoner. He's the priority, so don't shabiir and let him slip. He should still be seeing bunch of pretty colors from all the sedatives Dorna pumped into him but don't take any chances. You can never know for sure with Jetii, he could be using that Force of his to take the edge off or something so stay frosty."


"Will do, ba'vodu, don't worry. I'll make sure he gets there." came Jayna's answer.


"Good. Oric, help Dorna move the wounded to the top. The rest of you converge at the cubicle hell on second floor and hold the enemy off until the wounded and the prisoner are safely on the top floor."


Jayec and Kenna began retreating towards the stairway to the second floor, joining up with Torhan and Meeka on the way. Meeka was laying few explosive surprises for the pursuers while Torhan covered him. Jayec grinned slightly under his helmet. His unit required very little micromanagement in the field, mostly because Jayec was old pals with most of them and knew that all they needed to act effectively was an objective, ammo and explosives. Plus he knew that most of them were unrepentant bastards when it came to ruining the enemy's day.


"Tell me, vod; how many do you number? Including your aruetii burc’ya.”


Jayec made the count quickly. No casualties had been reported so far, so they were still twelve strong. Thirteen if you added the prisoner. Jayec was a bit surprised about the Mand'alor being aware that his unit had non Mando's in it but then again it was completely possible someone up top was feeding her relevant information. Anyway there was just one aruetii, Syl, on the ground with the unit right now. Andon was convalescing from a shrapnel to the gut and the rest two were support personnel.


"Twelve altogether, thirteen if you include the prisoner, but four of us are wounded too badly to fight. We're moving them on the top floor first."

[Dutch]

“Ori’jate. On the double, Veth.” Mandalore replied. Injuries were to be expected in the extraction, but so were casualties. For Jayec to take the Jedi, and survive this long without a single casualty was noted. In these times, Mandalorians like Veth and his motley squad were exactly what their crusade needed. Loyal, indomitable, and classic Mandalorian grit. Despite her own misgivings on outsiders not raised with their people, Mandalore far from denied Veth’s latent talent for recruiting others to their cause. He was an asset, one of many that drove the Mandalorian crusade.

From atop her war droid Mandalore could see more Republic drop-ships begin their descent, and with it the iconic glow of distant lightsabers igniting. Cursing silently to herself, Mandalore leaned low to pat the side of Skira’s head.

“Pirunir sur'haaise, ner’vod.” Mandalore whispered as her gloved gauntlet caressed the droid’s plating. She shifted to slide back into the saddle before both legs were swung over to dismount. A couple chunks of rubble scattered when Mandalore’s boots hit the roof, and she turned to face her loyal mount.

“Slanar! She commanded. The lumbering droid rumbled as an awakening krayt dragon before both engines roared to life. With an awkward hop the basilisk took to the air, and made for the drop ships at an increasingly rapid pace. Mandalore’s own jump-pack flared to life, and the silvery warlord shot high into the air to land atop one of the ruined walls. In the distance she could see Skira bodyslam straight through a drop-ship that was attempting to flee, much to Mandalore’s satisfaction.

She did not flinch as a couple enemy soldiers took pot shots at her, their blaster bolts splashing harmlessly against the side of her beskar helm. The tiny chronometer at the corner of her HUD flashed with warning, her timer set before descent going off soundlessly. Well timed too, as her radar picked up Veth’s team beginning to arrive.

Mandalore did not draw any weapons, even as the few Jedi that survived her war droid’s assault began to close in to the office building. Instead her lower hands moved to clasp behind her at the small of her back as the upper set began to raise with arms spread wide. She peered down at the Republic forces, a shining silver statue in the sun.

From high above a staccato of whumfs! sounded a dozen times, soon followed by a dozen searing red streaks marking the blue sky. Her helm tilted slightly back in a stance of superiority, Mandalore watched as those streaks dropped closer rapidly.

One by one they fell around the building, each basilisk war droid slamming into Bandomeer with a small quake. Each as unique as the Mandalorian astride the droid, the machines steamed slightly from the insertion. A moment of silence followed, but didn’t last as the Republic desperately attempted to end this new threat.

And the dozen verda sent to relieve Veth’s squad answered.

[CaptainBonkers]

As it turned out, retreating was surprisingly easy when your demo-expert had gone nuts with the explosives in his backpack and the enemy was distracted by a squadron of bes'uliik falling on their heads from the clear blue sky. When Jayec took a peek out of a window and saw the carnage going on outside he almost felt bad for the Pubs. Almost: Jayec wasn't going to lose any sleep over bunch of dead republic soldiers. This was war and in war people died. At least the troopers outside knew they might die today and most likely had volunteered for combat. Or was Republic drafting citizens by now? Jayec never could keep up with the latest news about the enemy unless they were in a mission dossier or mentioned during a briefing. In any case, the enemy was having a really bad day.

Most of his squad had already made it to the top floor with the wounded and the captured Jedi. Jayec was holding the line with Kenna and Torhan while covering Meeka who was laying the finishing touches on his last booby trap. The republic soldiers were taking potshots at them from the other end of the room. Their advance had slowed down significantly after first of the walked into one of Meeka's directional charges. Seeing one of your buddies shredded by an explosion and hail of shrapnel tended to make you watch your step. Still, they had made pretty quick ground all things considered.

"Okay, boss. I'm done here. The charge should blow a hole in the floor once you press the button. If that don't slow down the pubs I don't know what will." came Meeka's voice through Jayec's helmet's earpiece.

"Good job, Ordo. Now get over here. It's time we got out of here."

Jayec signaled Kenna and Torhan to head up the flight of stairs leading to the roof. Jayec was going to be last one through the door. A good leader was always the first to go and last to leave, unless forced by extraordinary circumstances act differently. Current situation was relatively ordinary, just another day in the office. So to speak. Jayec had lived through similar situations couple of times before, even before the war. This time, there wasn't even anyone throwing stinky fruits at him and hurling insults in garbled huttese. Oh, Nar Shaddaa...

He held position behind a flipped office desk, covering Meeka while the demolitions expert made it to the stairway, handing over the detonator as he passed Jayec. Jayec sent one final burst of blasterfire to the enemy’s direction and headed for the upper floor. Once he had made it to the top he flipped the switch on the detonator and the whole building shook for a moment. That ought to slow down the enemy for a while.

On the roof things seemed to be going well. Jayna was pointing her rifle at the jetii’s head while two other warriors Jayec didn’t know inspected that the prisoner really was incapacitated enough for transport. A little away from them Dorna was tending to the wounded, helped by a baar’ur Jayec figured had arrived with the reinforcements. The rest of his squad had taken positions alongside the reinforcements and were firing at the Republic soldiers on the ground below. Jeayec wasn’t sure what the Pubs were trying to do currently. Maybe even they didn’t know. It seemed like the enemy’s cohesion had broken down completely and everyone was just trying to survive or cause some damage before the end. Presiding over it all was the Mand’alor.

“Mand’alor.” Jayec approached her, nodding respectively. “Alor’ad Jayec Veth reporting. All of my warriors are present and accounted for.”